Mitchell Fox started A Hunter’s Legacy to share the stories of everyday hunters. In episode 1, the Iowa host introduces the show through his own experiences growing up around family deer hunts, learning to bowhunt, and fitting the outdoors around a full-time career.
The idea came from a familiar problem: much of the hunting media he followed featured people whose opportunities looked different from his own. Mitchell wanted conversations with hunters balancing jobs, family, and a handful of chances to get into the woods.
Growing Up Hunting in North-Central Iowa
Before Mitchell was old enough to hunt, he begged his dad to let him ride along during shotgun season. When he stayed home, he listened to the hunters talking over CB radios, following the action from the house.
Eventually, he joined the family hunts. Being one of the younger hunters meant plenty of walking and pushing deer toward the older members of the group. Looking back, the camaraderie stands out. Deer season brought together people he sometimes saw only once a year.
His surroundings were open farmland, river bottoms, and small patches of timber. Iowa’s reputation for giant whitetails did not make those properties easy to hunt. Once the leaves fell, reaching a stand without being seen could be a challenge of its own.
An Old Browning and Plenty of Trial and Error
Bowhunting started when Mitchell’s dad brought home a bow and helped him and his brother put up homemade stands. Their dad hunted, but he wasn’t a bowhunter. The brothers had a lot to figure out themselves.
As the younger brother, Mitchell ended up with an old Browning bow that had a bulky riser, small cams, and no quiver. He later upgraded, but wishes he had kept that bow for the memories attached to it.
He describes much of his early bowhunting education as trial and error. Success did not arrive with the equipment. Learning how deer moved, where to sit, and how his own decisions affected a hunt took time.
The Tractor Ride That Led to an Unforgettable Encounter
One early hunt still stands out decades later. Mitchell drove a John Deere 4760 around the section to reach a stand near a cut bean field. After settling in, he saw roughly 25 deer approaching in single file.
The last deer was the biggest buck he had seen at that point. It lingered nearby and eventually bedded beside a brush pile. Mitchell remembers watching it as daylight faded, close enough to feel the excitement of being near a deer that had no idea he was there.
The hunt ended with a missed shot. The encounter stayed with him anyway. When he talks about what hooked him on bowhunting, that evening is one of the memories he returns to.
The Buck He Still Gives Lance Grief About
Another story involves his friend Lance Porter and a big nontypical that walked away. During a hunt on a property where they were targeting management deer, Lance contacted the landowner and received permission for Mitchell to shoot the buck. The opportunity passed before it came together.
Later, while shed hunting the property, they found both antlers. They estimated the buck would have scored around 178 inches. Mitchell still gives Lance grief about that deer, but also admits the missed opportunity probably gets discussed more than a mount on the wall would.
Why Everyday Hunters Deserve a Microphone
At the time of recording, Mitchell was working full time while building LogIQ Hunt, a hunting app he launched in 2024. Those responsibilities helped shape the podcast’s focus on hunters whose seasons have to fit around everyday life.
The first bow, the missed chance, the family tradition, and the mistake nobody lets you forget all have a place on A Hunter’s Legacy. Episode 1 opens that conversation with the host’s own story.
Listen to episode 1 with Mitchell Fox, then meet the show’s first guest in Mitchell Kearns’ Iowa hunting story.
